Fort Worth Invitational Preview, TV Times

The PGA Tour remains in Texas this week for the Fort Worth Invitational at the famous Colonial Country Club. Kevin Kisner is defending champion in this historic event.

Fort Worth Invitational Preview, TV Times

Kevin Kisner is defending champion in this week’s Fort Worth Invitational. He’ll face a strong field at Colonial that includes 2016 winner Jordan Spieth and European stars Justin Rose and Jon Rahm.

Jordan Spieth will be a home favourite this week as he looks to claim this title for a second time. Justin Rose has chosen to play in this event over the BMW PGA Championship, citing his Tour requirement to visit an event he hasn’t played in the past four years. In all, 13 of the top-30 ranked players in the world start in this event.

Since its inception in 1946, this event has been played on the same course and, in terms of length, the layout has changed little over the years. When Texas native Ben Hogan won the first Colonial Invitational the course measured 7,035 yards. It can now be stretched to 7,204 yards, but it generally plays a touch shorter than that.

The course at Colonial was opened in 1936 and played host to the 1941 U.S. Open. Having welcomed the PGA Tour since 1946, this is the longest running host venue on the circuit. Designed by Perry Maxwell and John Bredemus, it’s a classic shotmaker’s layout, challenging golfers with tight fairways and several doglegs.

Hogan dominated the early years of this event winning five times between 1946 and 1959, hence the course’s nickname of “Hogan’s Alley.” Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino and Tom Watson have also lifted the title.

Last year Kevin Kisner held off Jordan Spieth and Jon Rahm to win the title. He’ll be looking to join Ben Hogan as the only men to win back-to-back at Colonial.

Kevin Kisner is defending champion

The winner of the event is famously presented with a garish tartan jacket and a simply enormous trophy as the picture of Kisner above shows.

The weather forecast looks reasonable and, at this stage, it looks hopeful there will be no disruptions. Winds are set to be light.